Greetings!
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Green Lake, an area of natural beauty and warm hospitality
in our great state of Wisconsin.
Peaceful lakes and lush forests help make Wisconsin home to a perfect mix of adventure and
relaxation in the foreground of picturesque scenery. Green Lake serves up the best of the state
with endless activities indoors and out, friendly faces, satisfying meals, and treasured shops.
With its rural charm and diverse attractions, the Green Lake area has something for everyone
in the family to enjoy. Experience the state’s deepest natural inland lake with boating,
swimming, fishing, kayaking, and waterskiing. Explore on land with hiking, biking, and
camping. The adventure doesn’t stop indoors, where you can visit art galleries and watch a
performance at a historic opera house. Or see a whole new perspective of the area with a hotair balloon ride!
Green Lake, along with all of central Wisconsin, is not only enjoyable for vacations, it’s also
a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family with abundant business opportunities,
affordable housing, and a serene community.
We’re excited to host your adventure in Green Lake because when you’re having fun, we’re
having fun.
Sincerely,

Tony Evers
Governor

8 | Green Lake magazine 2019

greenlakemagazine.com | 9

green lake

Memories made here.
Plan your next getaway at
www.visitgreenlake.com.

With all that Green Lake offers, visiting
Green Lake easily becomes visiting
the good life. With miles of shoreline,
stunning sunsets, events, and activities
year-around, we know your entire
family will always have something
to enjoy!
Escape to the deepest natural inland
lake in Wisconsin. Green Lake offers
hours of experiences, from waterskiing,
ice skating, and boating to fishing. The
lake also offers hours of sightseeing
and birdwatching.
There are many different need-tosee sights that you’ll find hiking and
biking the gorgeous trails at the Green
Lake Conference Center. You’ll find
towers that allow for peering over the
entire lake, endless wildlife, and colorchanging leaves in the fall.
Excite your senses by diving into a
wood-fired pizza at a local winery or get
together with some friends to try some
microbrews. If you’d rather fill up at a
local coffee or ice cream shop, or dine at
a waterview restaurant, we have plenty

10 | Green Lake magazine 2019

of options. After a satisfying meal, feel
younger and more relaxed with facial or
massage therapy at the Evensong Spa.
Along with many places to visit, there
are also many events throughout the
year. During the summer, you’ll find
Concerts in the Park every Wednesday,
featuring different bands in different
genres. The historic Thrasher Opera
House provides an array of live
music downtown.
Green Lake also has weekly farmer’s
markets with colorful and flavor-packed
foods! While the weather is still warm,
the “best little fair around” comes to
town on August 1. And once it begins
to cool down in September, Green Lake
becomes home to a Wisconsin State

Chili Cookoff. As the leaves begin to
leave, Harvest Fest arrives—a festival
all about handmade crafts! Once the
leaves are gone and snow begins to
fall, ice fishing and ice skating become
popular activities all around town.
With so much to enjoy in Green Lake,
it’s a need-to-go vacation spot! You’ll
also find plenty of smiling faces around
town to welcome you to the good life.
For help planning your next visit, go to
visitgreenlake.com or contact the Green
Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
Provided by the Green Lake Area
Chamber of Commerce.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

T t1 ND�oss
fR
u

BAR AND

GRILL

ThunderBoss Bar and Grill is the newest lakefront restaurant
to come to downtown Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Coming this June 2019 and available throughout June, July and August, our
doors will be open from 9am-l lam on Saturday and Sunday mornings for
our "Grab and Go" BOSS Breakfast Bagel Sandwiches, Bloody Marys and
Mimosas! No need to leave your morning lake activities anymore - pick up is
available dockside by boat or jetski! For every 6 breakfast sandwiches
purchased in advance online atThunderBoss.com, your 7th is free!
Limited time offering.

Look for the white barn building with indoor and outdoor seating and
spectacular lakefront views on Dartford Bay - that's us!
Come on in and give us a try!

greenlakemagazine.com | 11

The Goose Blind
Grill & Bar

by Kyle Jacobson
Throughout Wisconsin, local bars
and restaurants make an effort to be
involved in their communities. The
sense of gratitude these establishments
show toward their customers comes
across as authentic and heartfelt through
meaningful contributions to the places
they call home. Goose Blind Grill & Bar
is definitely one of those restaurants,
but it also does something a little
subtle that, if you’re not a regular, you
might’ve missed.
It all starts inside the grill and bar.
Owner Mary Rowley has set a mission
for herself and her barstaff. “When you
walk in the door, all we know is we

need to bring you up. We don’t know
if you just had a bad day at work,
you just had a fight with your wife, if
you just came from a funeral, if you’re
celebrating a birthday, if you just got
married.” She doesn’t want to wait to
see who comes back before building a
relationship with her customers. Goose
Blind treats tourists like locals and
locals like family.
And that’s not a slogan; that’s just what
they do. It starts with their relationship
to Green Lake. “We’re a constant. We’re
involved in the community. We’re
involved with the schools—having
school dances here, fundraisers here.”
In a town of 1,200, everything you do
gets noticed, which is why I find the
best thing Goose Blind has done for
Green Lake lies in the decisions and
expansions they’ve made in house.
In the beginning, Goose Blind was just
a bar. “I knew we needed to be a food
eatery with the bar and everything
else.” Mary wanted casual dining at a
time when Green Lake was filled with
12 | Green Lake magazine 2019

fine dining. It might sound like filling
a niche, but I think there’s more to it
than that. Then consider her philosophy
on beer. With 18 beers on draft, Goose
Blind keeps its ear to the ground for
what’s going on in the local craftbeer world, ensuring they’re rotating
a handful of taps for seasonals and
offhand varieties while preserving some
year-round favorites.
“You can’t be stagnant. ... We’re always
reinvesting in the business.” Mary’s
energy in keeping Goose Blind relevant
has often placed her ahead of the eight
ball. Her adventurous spirit translates
well to the menu. “We always do food
with a twist.” Little things like tequila in
buffalo sauce and brussels sprout leaves
on a burger make the food something
that she seeks to keep evolving.
But the staples of Goose Blind’s menu,
like a white chicken chili from a recipe
Mary got from her best friend, are some
of their gems. Bit of a side note: as a
Wisconsin native, I love good fish. I
think those who like baked fish can
agree that finding a place that knows
how to fry fish while preserving the
flakey texture and succulent taste can
be tough. I’ll just say you won’t be
disappointed here.
From the unique to the familiar, Green
Lake means a lot of different things to
a lot of different people. And whether
you’re a local or a tourist, Goose
Blind fashions itself to make sure that
never changes.
Kyle Jacobson is a freelance writer
and senior copy editor for
Green Lake Magazine.
Photographs provided by the
Goose Blind Grill & Bar.
greenlakemagazine.com | 13

F un at
BIG GREEN LAKE
Year-Round

by Alyssa Paulsen

Not many small communities can boast
they have something for visitors yearround. This, however, is very true for
Green Lake. Residents don’t even have
to try to ensure their go-to attraction
is ready for action every season. It just

naturally prepares itself for any day of
the year.
That’s right! Big Green Lake is ready
for you no matter what the temperature
outside. Its claim to fame as Wisconsin’s

GREEN LAKE FISH CHART

WHO THEY ARE | WHERE THEY ARE | WHEN | TOP BAIT
LAKE TROUT

WALLEYE

WHITE BASS

NORTHERN

BASS
PANFISH

Late May through mid-July, shallower water early, 40–60’. 100–140’
later. Small spoons, small shiners.
Ice out until early May, fish shorelines. Last week in June until mid-July, fish weed
beds. Early August through autumn, 25–50’ on hard-bottom drop-offs. Night
crawlers, leeches.
Early May, fish shoreline on windy days, lake surface on calm days.
July 10 through mid-September, troll spinners with small minnows, surface down
to 40’.
First three weeks of June, troll the weed beds. Large spinners, crank baits.
July, fish in 25–40’ of water on the drop-offs. Large chubs, suckers.
Early May, work the shorelines. Warmer weather, fish the rock piles 15–20’.
Spinner baits, tubes, crawlers, leeches.
Late April through early May, fish the shorelines, the bays, and by the dam. Late
July, fish the cribs. Waxworms, small worms (garden or angle).

ICE FISHING
CISCO

TROUT
NORTHERN
WALLEYE
PANFISH

Early December, cisco are spawning and can be caught in 40–60’ of water on
rocky shoals, or through winter with jigs and glow spoons.
Late December through March. Small shiners.
Fish in 12–18’ of water near big weed beds. Big shiners on tip-ups.
Fish near big weed beds 8–12’ of water, or in water up to 30’. Small shiners, jigs,
small spoons.
Plentiful in shallow water. Fish 30–40’ for larger fish. Small grubs, plastics.

14 | Green Lake magazine 2019

deepest natural inland lake (237 feet at
its deepest) makes this body of water
usable for fishing, swimming, boating,
kayaking, ice fishing, waterskiing, ice
skating, and even ice boating.
Green Lake is a hot spot in the late
spring through the summer, and in
early fall, visitors flock to test the waters
of the 7,346-acre lake. You’ll catch
fishermen anchoring their boats to their
favorite spots as they prepare for a day
of hooking the biggest fish. You’ll find
families taking their children swimming
off the shores of Hattie Sherwood
Beach, Dodge Memorial County Park,
and Sunset Park. The glistening waters
will be disrupted by boaters as they pull
a daring skier leaping over the waves
behind them. There’s no place quite like
it for a great time with family or friends
or both!
What’s better is that you don’t even need
your own boat or equipment to enjoy a
good time out on the lake. Green Lake is
packed with boat and equipment rentals
sure to make your visit memorable.
Don’t know a whole lot about the lake
and town but would like to learn more
without wasting any action time? Head
to Pierless Boat Rentals at Green Lake
Conference Center to coast the lake in
style aboard the 60-foot Escapade or the

J. Lawson respectively as you take a tour
and learn the history of Green Lake.
If bundling up and heading out to a
frozen lake for activity is more your
thing, load up the ice shanty because
Green Lake is the place to be for ice
fishing as well. Much like summer
fishing, bait can be purchased
downtown along with most other
day-on-the-lake essentials. While ice
conditions vary each year, most of the
time ice fishers and their shanties dot
the horizon of Big Green Lake.
If you’re looking for another familyfriendly activity during the cold months,
Deacon Mills Wharf area becomes a
whimsical ice skating rink, perfect for
spending a few hours or all day.
With so much to do, it’s no wonder Big
Green Lake is a destination many head
to year-round. Whether in summer,
when all the houses around the lake
begin to fill up and downtown becomes
vibrant with activity, or in winter, when
most parts of town are barren and
grey—Green Lake continues to cater
to those who love action and sports as
well as those who just want to curl up
with a good book or warm their toes by
a bonfire near the shores of Big Green.
Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.
Photograph by Barbara Wilson.

HELPFUL
WEBSITES
FISHING LICENSES:
gowild.wi.gov

FISHING SEASONS:
dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing
/seasons/index.html

PARKS & BOAT LAUNCHES:

visitgreenlake.com/things-to-do/parks

TOURIST AND EVENT
INFORMATION:
visitgreenlake.com

greenlakemagazine.com | 15

Green Lake
Festival of Music

CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF

Magical Music
by Laura Deming

Each summer, visitors and residents of
Green Lake find its beauty enriched by
the magical musical events of Green
Lake Festival of Music, a celebration of
classical music for the whole family.
For 40 years, the Festival has hosted
world-renowned musicians, conductors,
composers, and rising young stars with
concerts at intimate venues that allow
audiences to be part of the experience. You’ll
not only absorb the music, but also have the
opportunity to interact with the musicians
as they share their passion and craft through
preconcert conversations. You’ll gain a
deeper understanding and insight into
the compositions.
The Festival provides music mastery
through concerts; the chamber music
camp, with outstanding faculty artists
and 24 select students; and choral
activities, including a composer
residency. From people who love
singing and playing to those who simply
enjoy listening to great music, there’s
something for everyone.
40th Anniversary highlights include:
• Internationally renowned violinist
James Ehnes and pianist Andrew
Armstrong performing an allBeethoven concert.
• Shakespeare sung by world-class
opera singers, inspired by American
Players Theatre, which is also
celebrating its 40th anniversary.
And much more!
The concerts are free, although
contributions are appreciated to support
artists and the education of the next
generation of talented musicians.
For a full schedule of events, concert
information, and links to the artists’
music mastery, go to greenlakefestival
.org, find us on Facebook, or contact
us at info@greenlakefestival.org or
(920) 748-9398.
Laura Deming is festival director
for Green Lake Festival of Music.
Photographs provided by
Green Lake Festival of Music.

The Green Lake region has been a
popular golfer’s paradise for generations.
Multiple challenging courses attract
players who stay and play more than
one, enjoying some of the best golf in
the country.

The Golf Courses
of Lawsonia

Reputed as one of the most celebrated
and challenging courses in the Midwest,
Lawsonia’s two courses are distinctly
different from each other. The Links
Course was built by the H. O. Stone
Company in 1930. Designers William
Langford and Theodore Moreau traveled
to Scotland to sketch and photograph
famous golf holes at links-style courses.
The seventh hole is arguably the most
unique: a boxcar is buried underneath
the green, giving it steep sides, with the
right side about 20 feet almost vertical.
The first nine of the Woodlands Course
was added in 1983, and the second nine
opened in 1991. On the second hole, a
quarry protects the green, implying it
might be best to hit a right-to-left shot
when actually it’s best to stay right off of
the tee to achieve a better angle into the
protected green.

Photograph by Lara Roehl

Mascoutin Golf Club

Named for a village south of Berlin
inhabited by fire-worshipping Indians,
Mascoutin’s gently rolling hills are
home to 27 holes. The first 18 holes
opened in 1976, and the third 9 opened
in 1999. Mascoutin offers numerous
clubs and events for men, women,
and couples.

Tuscumbia Golf Course

Tuscumbia reigns as Wisconsin’s oldest
course. Founded in 1896, the course’s
18 holes feature majestic evergreens,
maples, and oaks. Tuscumbia’s Family
Links is a 9-hole, par-3 executive
course with narrow fairways and
small undulating greens providing an
enjoyable experience for golfers young
and old.

Sondalles White Lake
Country Club

This 18-hole, par-72 golf course is
carved out of more than 200 acres of
ancient glacier land. Nestled among
hills, woods, and ponds with 6,382
18 | Green Lake magazine 2019

The Links is Ranked #59
America’s Top 100 Greatest
Public Courses by Golf Digest,
is one of America’s best classic
courses, ranked #60 in the
U.S. by Golfweek and #2 in
the state. A true links golf
experience in Wisconsin! The
Woodlands includes beautiful
tree-lined fairways, stunning
views of Green Lake, and a
famous par-3 with a 65’ drop.
Langford’s Pub offers great
food and drink.
yards of course, the grounds include
significant elevation changes, doglegs,
sand traps, and water hazards. A dozen
or so free-roaming, friendly peacocks
add an unexpected touch of elegance to
the experience.

Book your tee time today at
Lawsonia.com
or call (920) 294-3320.
Ask about all-day rates and
stay-and-play packages!

Sondalles White Lake
Country Club
W1680 Country Club Drive
Montello
(608) 297-2255

greenlakemagazine.com | 19

Princeton

Princeton’s many antique stores. From
finely crafted dressers to delightful
novelty signs, Princeton stores are a
homemaker’s dream. Participate in one
of the many weekend events that the
town has to offer, from Wine Walks
to our Rubber Chicken Fling to our
Whooping Crane Festival.
Visit us Thanksgiving weekend, away
from the rat race of Black Friday. This
time shop local: stroll from store to store
while taking photos with Santa and
picking up hot chocolate, personalized
cookies, and more. Stay for our
Christmas in Princeton parade and feel
childlike wonder again.

Princeton Wisconsin invites you in.
With its charming local shops, its
bustling antique stores, and the famous
Flea Market, you can spend a day, a
weekend, or a week here completely

transported to small-town life bursting
with appeal.
Plan a day: visit Princeton’s Famous
Flea Market, held outdoors from
April to October. It’s the largest of its
kind in the state and full of treasures
homemade, antiqued, and new. From
booth to booth, you will find the
perfect thing you have been looking
for and the thing you never knew
you needed until then. Following your
robust treasure hunting at the Flea
Market, treat yourself to lunch. Relax in
cozy restaurants, enjoy the sunshine at
the American Legion’s award-winning
brat fry, or support a local organization
by picking up a burger at the Flea
Market’s food stand.
Once full, take yourself on a date
in downtown Princeton and discover
the many local shops, which offer
everything from American-made
clothing, hand-blown glass ornaments,
and local wines to specialty crafted
soaps. Say hi to one of our many shop
dogs, and find a gift for everyone on
your list, from birthdays to Christmases
to weddings.
Plan a weekend: meet up with friends,
or take the kids and enjoy a couple days
exploring more that Princeton has to
offer. Spend the afternoon discovering
the hidden wonders in each of

Plan a week: take your time and discover
the beauty of central Wisconsin and
spend a week in Princeton. Stay at
one of our local campgrounds, motels,
or Airbnbs. Reacquaint yourself with
nature. Teach the kids how to canoe
while discovering the historic Fox River.
Relish the peace and quiet while spending
the day golfing, fishing, or hunting. Look
back in time and enjoy the slow sweet
pace of small-town life. Take Princeton’s
Historical Walking Tour or visit a
cemetery reenactment.
And when you want to explore some
more, have a tour of a local winery
or family farm and savor the taste of
food and drink crafted by real people
for you. Make sure to bring your bikes
and traverse one of the five bikes paths
stretching out through the hills and
woods of the surrounding area. And
there is a winter wonderland waiting
for you in Princeton with our
snowmobiling trails, ice skating, and
cross-country skiing.
Princeton is waiting for you, whether
you are hours or minutes away. Come
and see for yourself and make each day
an adventure. For more information
contact the Princeton Chamber
of Commerce at (920) 295-3877 or
visit princetonwi.com.
Provided by the
Princeton Chamber of Commerce.
Photographs by
Gary Hannabarger.

As per their mission statement, Jessica
and Matt Greget of daiseye offer unique,
earth-friendly, and fair-trade products
while educating shoppers about global

responsibility. Whether a piece of wall
art or a bamboo/organic cotton-blend
Santorini skirt, there’s no question
that the product was created with the
environment in mind. Their products
are organic, made from recycled
and reclaimed materials, and always
come from a manufacturer utilizing
energy-efficient practices. In addition,
no animal, human or otherwise, was
knowingly exploited when creating the
products daiseye enthusiastically places
for sale.
And that enthusiasm comes through in
talking with Jessica. “I don’t think my
store is really cookie cutter. It’s got a
creative side to it.” She’s very proud of
the store’s selection and appreciates the

525 W. Water Street
Princeton, WI
daiseye.com

Photograph provided by daiseye

An individual’s morals have forever
been an edge held by the consumer over
the seller. That edge is mitigated when
there’s lack of competition in the area,
forcing consumers to shop in places
they might fundamentally disagree with
on ideas concerning best practice. This
is why it’s so important to support local
businesses that listen to consumers
over pushing market trends. And for
those who value sustainability and
the preservation of our environment,
historic downtown Princeton has a gem
in daiseye.

opportunity to put her personal tastes on
display. Through chosen clothing lines,
Jessica is able to reflect her admiration
for the countries of Peru, Nepal, and
India. The apparel, alongside an eclectic
mix of jewelry and accessories as well as
dog and cat items, highlights a palpable
theme in daiseye, but to give it a name...
Bohemian? Hippie chic?

earth friendly & ethical
22 | Green Lake magazine 2019

Photographs by Barbara Wilson

Either way, it works, and that’s because
Jessica and Matt complement each other’s
strengths. “Matt is more of the business
side, and I’m more of the fun and
creative side,” says Jessica. Matt’s been
running the numbers behind daiseye
since its inception in October 2002.
He’s a Princeton native, born and raised.
From the community and his education
at the University of Wisconsin–Green
Bay, Matt’s environmental awareness

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

played no small role in defining the
vision of daiseye. It’s always been about
reclaimed items, and when Jessica
joined the team six years ago, clothing
and a global cultural element was added
to the mix.
If it happens to be the month of April
while you’re in Princeton, Jessica invites
you to stop by and see the sturgeon
spawning just off the back porch.
It’s something she loves sharing with
customers and visitors alike.
There’s a lot of value consumers add
to Princeton by supporting daiseye.
As part of Travel Green Wisconsin,
the store brings eco-minded tourists
to the area. And money spent in the
city’s shops often recirculates back into
Princeton’s economy. Every purchase
means something different for the
customer, but for Jessica and Matt,
it means the opportunity to continue
sharing their message of conservation
and preservation through wares
that are fashionable and mindful to
cultures around the world. Educational,
sustainable, and a bit irie, daiseye pairs
well with Princeton.
Kyle Jacobson is a freelance writer
and senior copy editor for
Green Lake Magazine.
greenlakemagazine.com | 23

Green Lake
County Fair

Photogra

ph by Kat

e Triller

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

by Kim Zills

Green Lake County fairgoers can
“Travel the World at the Fair” in 2019.
Get ready for a holiday close to home
with sights and sounds from around
the world, August 1 through 4. Free
admission and parking!
The 2019 Green Lake County Fair will
hold fun events based on the travel the
world theme. The Fair offers something
for everyone, from educational
programming and musicians to
agriculture education and fascinating
exhibits by county youth and adults.
And don’t forget the livestock judging
leading up to the Livestock Auction on
Friday, August 2. Food vendors will
provide visitors with great experiences
at affordable prices, and excitement
awaits on the midway with more food
and carnival rides. The Fair will host
truck/tractor pulls and a Demolition
Derby. An admission fee applies to
track events.
24 | Green Lake magazine 2019

Just a few of the events planned for
2019 include science shows; free face
painting; meet-and-greet-style animal/
reptile shows; free balloon animals;
and comedian/hypnotist and U.S. Army
veteran Kellen Marson will be taking
the stage for two shows on Saturday,
August 3. Also planning a visit are
the Agri-Puppets, a fun family puppet
show that teaches the importance of
farming, animals, and agriculture. The
Agri-Puppets will be taking to the Big
Farm Show Stage three times each day
along with Boomer, who will be driving
his farm delivery truck all over the
fairgrounds talking to fairgoers.
The Fair is a showcase for the county’s
youth and adults who plan all year for
their entries. The youth work on projects
to expand their skills and knowledge
and share what they’ve learned with
fairgoers through conversation and
exhibits. The Fair is overseen by the

county’s University of Wisconsin
Extension office and the Green
Lake County Agriculture, Extension
Education, and Fair Board with the
assistance of many volunteers. Support
for the Fair is shown through the Friends
of the Fair Partnership Program, which
includes area service organizations,
individuals, and businesses.
Visit us at greenlake.uwex.edu/fair,
call (920) 294-4033, or email
kim.zills@ces.uwex.edu for more
information. It’s Wisconsin at its best,
and it happens all around the state in
every one of our 72 counties. The Green
Lake County Fair is known as the “best
little fair around.” Come and see why.
Adventures and family memories await!
Kim Zills is the
coordinator of the
Green Lake County Fair.

Music by the Lake
by A lyss a Pau lsen

Picture your favorite area band
performing live right in front of you
as you sip a cool drink in the park
with your friends. The calm waters
of Big Green Lake lap at the wooden
pier of the Wharf only about 100
feet away from your chair. The hint
of a glorious sunset plays at the
lake’s horizon.
Now stop imagining! Music in Deacon
Mills Park is the perfect way to spend
summer in Green Lake, and it’s a
very real event! Whether country,
bluegrass, rock and roll, polka, jazz,
or something else entirely is your
favorite type of music, the Green
Lake Area Chamber of Commerce’s
Concerts in the Park series is sure
to please.
Kicking off its first night on June
12 and continuing every Wednesday
night through August 14, Concerts in
the Park offers an eclectic mix of genres
based off of favorites from previous
years of the series, recommendations
to the chamber, local and area bands
known to rock your socks off, and
much more!

Music runs from 6:30 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. and features not only live
entertainment, but also beverages
sold by the chamber, cotton candy
and popcorn by Guth’s Candy, and
burgers and brats sold by North Bay
Sport & Liquor.
The Chamber has announced several
key dates for the 2019 series. Back by
popular demand is Cajun Strangers on
July 17, and local favorite Rock River
Band on August 7. And no one can
resist the big sounds of the University
of Wisconsin Marching Band and
the Ricochettes as they take the
stage during Family Picnic Night on
July 10.
The full Concerts in the Park
schedule will be updated in 2019,
and can be found by heading to
visitgreenlake.com or by calling
the Green Lake Area Chamber of
Commerce at (920) 294-3231.
Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.
greenlakemagazine.com | 25

The real estate transfer was a historical
event, although the moment was
anticlimactic given the no-smallfeat accomplished by generous donor
pledges, a WDNR grant award, and
an unwavering faith that common
good would prevail. For the Green
Lake Conservancy’s all-volunteer land
trust, the transfer meant realizing its
largest land acquisition to date, Tichora
Conservancy, on July 10, 2018.
But what is known before then?
How did the landscape appear
prior to settlement? And who were
the earlier people that inhabited the

prairies, oak openings, and shorelands
along Wisconsin’s deepest natural
inland lake?
When the original land surveys were
conducted circa 1830, most of the land
bordering Green Lake did not appear
as it does today. Far from it. It was
oak opening, a transitional community
between prairie and forest. Back then
one would have witnessed scattered,
open groves of randomly sprouted
copses of young bur and black and
white oak trees, “shock troop” oaks that
managed to conquer the prairie fires
and animal predation to appear park-

like to the first Euro-Americans who
settled here. And long before settlement,
the Ho-Chunk tribe plied the local
resources and made their living here.
The evidence is recorded in the original
land surveyor field notes and anecdotes
gleaned from journals and letters of
intrepid pioneers and travelers. Early
historian Donald McLoid observed,
“There are beautiful prairies, oak
openings, woodlands, lakes, abounding
springs, clear swift streams, soil so
fertile that you have but to turn it up to
make it yield grain to any extent. This
land can be purchased through the land
office at Green Bay at $1.25 an acre.”

Roughly 80 years following early
settlement, beginning in 1920 to 1958,
a property on Dickinson Bay off Green
Lake’s south shore was operated as a
Boy Scout camp, Camp Tichora. The
camp was endowed with the Ho-Chunk
word Ti-cho-ra, Tira meaning “lake”
and cho meaning “green,” referring to
Green Lake because of the distinctive
emerald hue imbued in the water.
Then in 1959, Camp Tichora was
acquired by the American Baptist
Churches of Metro Chicago, with major
funding provided by the Fred Grow
family. Thereafter, Camp Grow became
established as a ministries camp for

young people, particularly urban youth,
operating from 1959 to 2017. In short,
the land called Tichora Conservancy
has a protracted history of providing
hundreds of visitor campers, Boy Scouts,
and church camp youth a place to
learn about nature and cultivate lifelong
friendships and spiritual growth.

June 19. The land, once called Camp
Tichora then later Camp Grow, turned
a new leaf: Tichora Conservancy.
Tichora Conservancy’s natural capital,
40 acres­— 800 feet of shore frontage on
Green Lake and 1,200 feet bordering
Spring Lake, is preserved in perpetuity
accompanied by public access, lake
protection amenities, and restored
native habitat for future generations to
contemplate and enjoy.

Thomas L. Eddy is a founding
member of the Green Lake Conservancy
and serves as vice president for
Conservation. To learn more about the
work of the Conservancy, visit them at
greenlakeconservancy.org.

The takeaway? Collective action.
Tichora Conservancy is testament that
land, water, and people benefit when we
are at our best—striving together for the
common good.

Photograph by Elizabeth Goodspeed

Partnering with the Green Lake
Sanitary District, the Conservancy saw
a fundraising campaign commenced
in August 2017. By June 2018,
approximately $2 million was pledged
collectively by over 600 donors. In
addition, a $1.7 million Wisconsin DNR
Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant
was awarded to the Conservancy on

Ripon
Experience Ripon—this isn’t just a
message for nature enthusiasts who
want to surround themselves with acres
of parks, trails, rivers, and lakes. Ripon
has long been a friendly destination
energized by community celebrations,
eclectic shops, tasty cuisine, and historic
character. All who visit feel welcome by
the city’s charm and natural beauty.
For the epicurean we have hip
restaurants, a dog-friendly winery,
and a brewery featuring handcrafted

28 | Green Lake magazine 2019

artisan beers. The outdoors person will
find what they’re looking for in one
of our many parks, on our one-mileloop mountain bike trail, and along the
renowned Mascoutin Valley State Trail.
And if you’re a golfer, you’re in for a treat
on some of the state’s top-rated courses.
Community is at the heart of Ripon.
Those living here know the great
educational opportunities offered to
students and families and the robust
business economy that delivers

wonderful work places. Ripon is a
place people not only gather, but come
together—a friendly small town that
offers the vibrancy and amenities of a
much larger city.
An adventure awaits you in Ripon, and
we can’t wait to greet you.
Provided by the
Ripon Chamber of Commerce.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

Family Owned and WOWing Customers
by Jean Cornelius
Since 1987
Although its name is just two years old,
Webster’s Marketplace has been wellestablished in Ripon for three decades.
Opened by Rob and Kathy Webster
in 1989, the former Pick ‘n Save store
is now owned and operated by their
daughter, Candie Baker.

Rob and Kathy’s grocery beginnings
started when they bought a supermarket
in Spencer, Wisconsin, the year Candie
was born (1978). Growing up in the
business, Candie bagged groceries,
cleaned bathrooms, and later worked
summers in the bakery while in college.

Photograph by Barbara Wilson

In 1987, the Websters purchased the
Shop-Rite supermarket in Ripon.
In 1989, they opened Pick ‘n Save,
which was expanded and modernized
in 2005. Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc.
eventually acquired all the Pick ‘n Saves
except for Ripon’s. The store remained
independent while carrying the
Pick ‘n Save name. When Kroger bought
Roundy’s in 2015, the Ripon store

started in a new direction, sourcing
its products from SuperValu. In 2015,
major renovations at the store included
the addition of a 15th grocery aisle. The
following year, the store changed its
name to Webster’s Marketplace.
On being an independent grocer,
Candie says, “I like the freedom we have
to make our own choices in products
and services for our guests. If a local
company wants to see their products
here, we can make that choice quickly
and do not have to wait for permission
from someone or somewhere else. One
example is our recent partnership with
Water Works Bath Co. [of Ripon],
makers of great bath bombs, soaps, and
shower steamers. Back Porch Gatherings
[of Ripon] helped design and execute a
unique bathtub display for them.”
The store is open and responsive to
guest requests. “Our guests benefit from
our flexibility to bring in products per
request and not because some other
store in a chain is selling or not selling
that item,” Candie says.
Signature items made on location that
make the store unique include breads,
cakes, and donuts; homemade deli
dips, sandwiches, salads, and pizzas;
and broasted chicken. Brats, sausages,
and snack sticks are cured at their
in-store smokehouse.
Webster’s takes their role in the
community seriously. They believe

that the community is here to support
them and they are here to support
the community. Webster’s has a strong
presence at local events and a history
of giving back—their foundation
has given more than $1 million in
community grants, matching funds,
and scholarships.
Fun is an important part of the business
too, from Saturday Surprise Specials
announced on Facebook to Kid’s
Sunday Fun Days in-store activities to
a free piece of fruit for shoppers under
12. Last year, they introduced a store
mascot, Webbie the Duck—a mallard
named after Candie’s grandfather,
Robert Webster III.
A great grocer needs a great team, and
Candie says her team is second to none
and not easily replaced. “Our team
members live our mission daily: To
WOW our guests and associates with
enthusiasm and willingness to serve,”
she says. Webster’s was named 2019
Ripon Business of the Year by Ripon’s
Chamber of Commerce.
The best part of Candie’s job? “Helping
people. From helping and serving our
guests here at Webster’s to helping
our community through volunteering
or donating to helping grow members of
our team from their first job experience
to expanding their career in the industry,
the grocery business is all about people,
and I love that!”
Webster’s Marketplace, located at 1188
W. Fond du Lac Street in Ripon, is
open seven days a week from 5:00 a.m.
to midnight. And check out their new
online ordering system, Webster’s
Express, as an option for ordering
groceries for pick up or delivery.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Jean Cornelius is a freelance writer.

greenlakemagazine.com | 31

Photograph by Joe Koepnich

Cycling Through the Green Lake Area
by Alyssa Paulsen
Biking is unique because it’s not just
a sport for those who want a relaxed
exercise with scenic, wide-open
spaces to ride, it’s for those who want
to race against the wind alone or with

other hardcore cyclists. It’s for families
looking for an outing that gets their
kids away from the TV and computer
just long enough to bond in nature.
It’s all of these things and more. A

sport so unlike any other that it’s
gaining traction everywhere you visit.
Cyclist-friendly roads are popping
up all over. Biking lanes are being
added to construction projects. Law
enforcement is being better trained
to look out for the safety of bike
riders on the road with other vehicles
and motorcycles.
It’s indeed a sport gaining popularity,
and the area that seems to have
everything is also already a haven
for cyclists. Each community in the
Green Lake area has something special
to offer cyclists, from the rolling hills,
flat farmlands, and scenic beauty of
the countryside that weave between
each community to the breezy
routes that loop the magnificent
Big Green Lake.
In Green Lake, the local routes include
27 miles surrounding the lake, a twomile paved trail that runs alongside
Highway 23 from North Street to the
Green Lake Conference Center, as
well as a number of other routes that
take riders on tremendous adventures
through natural areas, farmland,
Amish Country, and so much more.
Sunnyside Conservancy and GuskeyMiller Prairie Trail right outside of
Green Lake are also amazing offroading destinations for those looking
for a nature-seeking ride.

32 | Green Lake magazine 2019

Heading out to Berlin, the Mascoutin
Valley State Trail is 11 miles and
stretches from Berlin to Ripon. It’s a
crushed-limestone and grass pathway
that weaves among the picturesque
sights of wooded areas and vast lands.
It remains mostly shaded throughout
the summer. Ripon is also home to
the Northwestern Trail, 3.5 miles of
gravel base along an old railroad bed
that begins behind the community’s
public library.
Princeton offers the area a number of
routes, with three of them boasting
new signage from Green Lake

Greenways to mark the way. One
of these routes is the Huckleberry
Loop, a 15-mile road route featuring
blacktop and gravel roads. Nature
lovers will be thrilled to notice the
Fox River popping up several times
along this route. Rustic River Loop
is also an adventure to tread. It’s 22
miles along the territory of the White
River and White River Marsh area.
Oxbow Loop is a slightly smaller
8-mile route consisting of hills along
the Fox River.

Bike rentals can also be found at
Pierless Boat Rentals in Green Lake,
where riders can find the beauty
throughout the Green Lake Conference
Center property.

Bring your own bikes to enjoy the
Green Lake area at your leisure.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

The area is always hopping with biking
events as well, such as the Green Lake
Area Chamber of Commerce’s Green
Lake 100 ride. For more information
about biking throughout the Green
Lake area or area cycling events, please
contact any of the local chambers.

Made up of a series of small towns,
the Green Lake area has no shortage
of activities and events during the
summer months.

summers. The 24th annual Cookie Daze
will take place on Saturday, August 3,
at Barlow Park. Festivities run from
10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., rain or shine.

For over 20 years, Ripon’s Cookie Daze
has been a highlight of many families’

The best part? It’s free! There’s nothing
better than free entertainment for
the whole family. The event will also
have a food and beverage stand for
your convenience.
With a variety of activities, such as
decorating cookies, Kookie Cookie
BINGO, and Rocket Shop & Launch
Pad, there’s never a dull moment! Kids
can get their faces painted or explore
in the Children’s Activity Tent, and
there will be a bouncy castle and so
much more.
The big events include the Cookie
Hunts and the Cookie Drops. Attendees

36 | Green Lake magazine 2019

HealtHy
CHoiCes

will watch in awe as thousands of
cookies are raised above their heads
when a Ripon Area Fire Department
truck heaves them into the air. And
of course, what goes up, must come
down. When the cookies drop, children
scurry to collect as many as they can.
Some cookies can even be redeemed for
prizes! Each Cookie Drop has a grand
prize winner, with this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prizes
including a PlasmaCar or a new bike.
Test out your baking skills with the
annual Bake & Taste Competition,
which encourages area bakers to
showcase their recipes for a chance to
win prizes or the infamous Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Choice Award.
For more information about the Bake
& Taste Competition as well as Cookie
Daze, go to the Ripon Chamber of
Commerce website at ripon-wi.com.
Alyssa Paulsen is a
freelance writer.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.
greenlakemagazine.com | 37

Explore Nature with

THE GREEN TEAM
Calling Green Lake and nature
enthusiasts to embark on another
year of free, fun-filled activities with
the Green Team!
Each year, volunteers and staff from
Green Lake Association, Green Lake
Conservancy, Green Lake Sanitary
District, and the Green Lake School
District plan Green Team events.
Celebrating their 11th year, the team’s
mission is to get families, community
members, and visitors to explore the
special, unusual, and often unknown
natural features within the Green
Lake area.
Stream Bugs and Monitoring Tour at
Dakin Creek (Saturday, June 1)
What classifies a stream as healthy
or unhealthy? What impact do our
streams have on larger bodies of water,

like Big Green Lake? This stream tour
allows you to use your detective skills to
discover the answers through a handson experience fit for all ages. You’ll
learn about stream health through a
sampling session with Tom Wagner on
Dakin Creek. The tour will include an
exploration of the creepy crawly critters
that live in streams and tell us a thing or
two about stream health.
Paddle and Hike at Tichora
(Saturday, June 8)
Acquired by the Green Lake
Conservancy in 2018, this 40-acre
parcel of undeveloped land was formerly
operated as Camp Grow. Located along
Green Lake’s unspoiled south shore in
Dickinson Bay, it also borders Spring
Lake to create a riparian habitat for a large
diversity of wildlife. An exceptionally
scenic property with sandstone cliffs,
shallow caves, and towering trees, Tichora
features hiking and other allowable uses
under the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship
Grant program. This leisurely tour is
good for all skill-leveled paddlers and

Mitchell Glen Tour (Saturday,
June 29, and Saturday, October 5)
Explore Mitchell Glen for a rare trip
when the limited-access property is
opened to the public. Local biologist
and educator Thomas L. Eddy will
lead participants down 80 steep
steps to the glen featuring 12 acres of
maple-basswood climax forest, unique
geological formations, outstanding
biodiversity, and a spring-fed waterfall
that flows into Green Lake.
Space is limited and reservations are
required. Save your spot by contacting
the Green Lake Sanitary District
at (920) 295-4488.

Moonlight Paddle & Bonfire at
Tichora (Saturday, July 13)
Join the Green Team on a nighttime
paddle to Tichora Conservancy.
Paddling by moonlight is a beautiful
and exhilarating experience with
diverse sounds of nature and a nearly
full moon as your guide. Bring your
canoe or kayak and paddle your way
over to Tichora for a bonfire.

Landscaping

stuartslandscaping.com

This event is weather dependent,
so if conditions are unsuitable, it will
be rescheduled.
To view the complete calendar, register
for events, and stay up to date on event
details, visit greenlakeassociation.com.
Provided by
Green Lake Association.
Photographs provided by
Green Lake Association.

33 years ago, our
President, Stuart Muche,
founded a community focused
company with the basic principle
that “No project is complete until
the customer is completely
satisfied and comfortable
recommending us to their family
and friends.” This focus has
allowed Stuart’s Landscaping &
Garden Center to grow from a
single location/crew in 1986 to an
industry leader with three
locations serving all the
Fox Valley, Green Lake, and
surrounding areas.
Stuart’s success stems from
the dedication we provide our
customers and the satisfaction we
bring to each one of them.

“We got it! We got it!” Dr. Luther Wesley
Smith exclaimed to James Kraft upon
learning that the Northern Baptists’
offer to buy the bankrupt Lawsonia
Country Club was accepted on
December 7, 1943.
Dr. Smith, executive secretary of the
Northern Baptist Board of Education
and Publication, had been looking for a
national conference center for Northern
Baptists. He enlisted the aid of James

40 | Green Lake magazine 2019

Kraft of Kraft Foods, Inc. as well as
leaders of the denomination about
acquiring a “fabulous former estate”—
Lawsonia Country Club, which had
closed in 1942. Lawsonia was purchased
in December 1943, and the Northern
Baptist Assembly was born.
Baptist youth held the first conference
in June 1944, and the slogan “For a
Closer Walk with God” was adopted.
Hundreds of Kansas Baptist youth were

inspired to present the lighted cross
on Judson Tower in 1945 in gratitude
for the hallowed grounds and their
meaning for generations to come. The
conference center became a key meeting
place for great Baptist leaders, including
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who spoke
at Green Lake in 1956 and 1957.
The conference center is an officially
associated ministry of American Baptist
Churches USA and is managed by a

board of directors. When the Northern
Baptist Convention changed its name
to American Baptist Churches, the
conference center followed suit and
became known as the American
Baptist Assembly. In the 1980s, its
name changed again to Green Lake
Conference Center (GLCC) to more
fully describe the scope of guests and
groups served.
Its founding purpose statement is
an ecumenical vision for Christian
leadership training. While GLCC
continues to be the warm spiritual
home for American Baptists, it’s also
treasured by many other denominations,
nonprofits, and educational groups.
GLCC relies on financial and volunteer
support from individuals and churches
as it continues to invest in improvements
to its great facilities for guests.
The year 2019 marks the 75th
anniversary of the conference center.
Celebratory events are planned for the
week of August 6 through 9, 2019.
Check GLCC’s Facebook page and
website for details. GLCC is a place
where God moves and the Holy Spirit
works. Connections are made at this
place and space of re-creation for people
to discover God’s better version of
themselves and their worlds.
For more information visit glcc.org.
Jean Cornelius is the
communications director at
Green Lake Conference Center.
Photographs provided by
Green Lake Conference Center.
greenlakemagazine.com | 41

Supporting
Clean Water
Through
Pillar
Projects
by Stephanie Prellwitz
In the summer of 2018, residents
throughout Wisconsin awoke to the
news that blue-green algae blooms
rendered their lakes temporarily
toxic. Green Lake was not part of this
infamous list, but the same culprit fuels
its weed and algae growth: phosphorus,
a naturally occurring element found in
eroding soil, excess fertilizer, and a host
of other urban and rural sources.
Various human impacts concentrate
phosphorus loading to nearby
waterways, accelerating natural lake
aging from centuries to years. This
process of lake degradation stimulates

indicators that range from moderate,
like excessive weed and algae growth
seen on Big Green Lake to severe,
like blue-green algae blooms seen this
summer on Little Green, Monona, and
Winnebago Lakes.
Although Big Green remains safe and
swimmable, the lake’s long-term trends
of high phosphorus levels and a lowoxygen dead zone indicate that its water
quality is not what it once was. It’s
critical to get ahead of moderate lake
degradation before Green Lake reaches
an ecological tipping point, when water
quality success becomes much harder.
Green Lake Association (GLA) is a notfor-profit organization that commits all
of its resources to improving Big Green
Lake’s water quality. The Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources listed
Big Green Lake as an impaired water
body in 2014 because it does not meet
optimal conditions.
GLA and other members of the lake
management planning (LMP) team have
developed a long-term rehabilitation
plan to improve the lake’s water quality.
The goal is to implement a suite of
conservation efforts that outpace Green
Lake’s decline. The GLA is advancing
three pillar projects in support of
the team’s rehabilitation plan aimed
at collaborating with local farmers,
restoring degraded streams and battling

42 | Green Lake magazine 2019

the harmful pollutants in them, and
defending Big Green’s waters against
invasive species.
These initiatives include, among
others, restoring 5,700 feet of degraded
streambank on Dakin Creek and
restocking the creek with brook trout,
an indicator of clean water; installing
a network of demonstration farms;
continuing the aggressive removal
of invasive carp; and installing two
decontamination stations at public boat
launches to prevent additional invasive
species from infecting the lake.
Green Lake did not have beach-closing
blue-green algae blooms like many
other lakes this year, though the lake’s
large volume and depth can mask its
water-quality challenges. For GLA and
members of the LMP team, the most
effective way to ensure a clean and safe
lake for current and future generations
is to be proactive now.
For more information on the
initiatives visit greenlakeassociation
.com, call (920) 294-6480 or email
info@greenlakeassociation.com.
Stephanie Prellwitz
is the executive director at
Green Lake Association.
Photographs provided by
Green Lake Association.

Berlin
THE AREA’S ONLY
FULL SERVICE LIQUOR &
MOVIE RENTAL STORE
Since 1976

Owners Pete & Indy Cheema
malchetskes.com

MALCHETSKE’S
Nestled along the Fox River, the
quaint city of Berlin awaits with
ample opportunities to relax, refresh,
and enjoy life in a community that
genuinely appreciates your presence.
Whether you’re looking for luxurious
green golf courses, a picturesque ride
along the Mascoutin Trail, a fun-filled
family day at the Berlin Aquatic Center,
or a place to embrace adventure along
the bank of the Fox River, Berlin is
the ideal place to live, work, relax,
and play.

Despite the chilly Midwest temperatures,
Berlin embraces Wisconsin winters with
festivities galore. In the last few years,
these events have included The Biggest
Little Parade in the Valley, Lighting the
Park, and the Taste of Berlin beer and
wine event. With so much to offer, the
Berlin community provides a plethora of
unforgettable experiences year-round.
Provided by the
Berlin Chamber of Commerce.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

Accessibility to the Fox River provides
the Berlin area with an extensive
amount of leisurely day activities, like
canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing,
and laying out in the warm sunshine.
The local campground offers riverfront
sites, cozy fire pits, and a conveniently
close proximity to well-maintained
baseball fields and sandy beach
volleyball courts.
The Berlin community hosts several
events during the summer months,
and concludes vacation season with the
perfect wrap up at the Annual Berlin
Fox Festival held at Riverside Park.

Skill and imagination come to life midAugust every year at the Green Lake
Fine Arts Show. Artists and art lovers
will gather again August 10 and 11 to
express and appreciate a variety of art
forms at Playground Park in downtown
Green Lake.

Art of every medium—oil paintings,
watercolors,
acrylics,
drawings,
photography, digital art, mixed media,
sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, glass,
and wood—is exhibited under white
tents along Dartford Mill Pond. A walk
through the art on these summer days

stimulates thinking; aesthetic awareness; cultural exposure; creativity;
emotional expression; an appreciation
of diversity; and, most importantly,
originality. Each piece is an original
design crafted by the artist exhibiting,
and all artists’ pieces are for sale.
A renowned juried show, it’s one of the
Midwest’s best! Its quality, diversity,
and 40 percent vendor switchover
rate guarantee a unique show every
year. “The Green Lake Fine Arts Show
continues its tradition of excellence
by showcasing returning awardwinning artists and welcoming new
outstanding artists,” says show organizer
Ali Rae Rossburg.

the show. Be inspired and appreciate
the joy of art in beautiful Green Lake!
For more information, contact Ali Rae
Rossburg at glartshow@gmail.com.
Visit greenlakeartshow.com to apply as
an exhibitor.
Jean Cornelius is a
freelance writer
and photographer.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

Green Lake is definitely the place to
be all summer long, but there’s also a
lot going on in the fall. While Harvest
Fest may be the area’s premier event
each year in late September, you won’t
want to miss the fun that rolls around
earlier in that same month. The spices
and juicy aromas wafting throughout
the town from Deacon Mills Park will
draw you in.
If you are a chili enthusiast, the annual
cookoff is perfect for you and the whole
family! Each year on the Saturday after
Labor Day, Green Lake becomes home
to the hottest competition out there,
the Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff, and
it’s right on the shores of beautiful Big
Green Lake. Head down to the park
on Saturday, September 7, to give your
taste buds a treat.
Hosted by the Green Lake Rotary Club
and the International Chili Society, the
Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff has been
growing steadily for over 30 years.
Over 30 chefs and their teams from
throughout the Midwest meet under the
46 | Green Lake magazine 2019

big tent in the park around 10:00 a.m.
to begin cooking their signature chili
recipes. It’s all about finding the
perfect combination of just the right
ingredients to wow the panel of judges.
With cooking complete by 3:00 p.m.,
the judges take turns trying each chili
as the tent opens to the general public to
also sample each masterpiece and vote
for the People’s Choice Award. As the
public make their way through, they
feast upon not only delicious chilis, but
also take delight in festively clad chefs
and homemade salsas and desserts.
Let’s not forget about the live music!
A band will entertain festivalgoers as
they enjoy their chilis and the judges

tally their results. Raffles will also be
available for attendees to try their luck.
Once the judges have tried all the chilis
and determined the contest winner, the
top 10 places are announced, with the
first place team moving on to compete
at the International Chili Society World
Championship Chili Cook-off.
For more information regarding the
Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff, please
go to wisconsinstatechampionshipchili
cook-off.com.
Alyssa Paulsen is a
freelance writer.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

greenlakemagazine.com | 47

markesan
Photograph by Jacklyn Ewerdt

We’re not part of the urban sprawl and
shopping malls; we’re something the big
cities and suburbs want. Markesan offers
true community living for everyone.
With state-of-the-art education facilities
and Markesan Resident Home, Barrett
House, and Samuel’s Grove for senior
citizens, families here make homes that
last a lifetime.

variety of events sponsored by our
local service organizations help to keep
weekends active.
Our hometown business district
is complete with medical facilities,
financial institutions, a public library,
and unique shopping. We have clean

streets, good schools, churches, and
stores within walking distance.
“A Grand Community” is not just the
city motto, it’s a way of life.
Provided by
Markesan Chamber of Commerce.

For those interested in our rich past,
the Historical Society Museum shows
the dedication this community has in
its heritage. Visitors come here at their
leisure to visit a city that was once the
richest in the nation.
For the outdoorsman, the Markesan
area provides sports and recreation
of all kinds. Little Green Lake will
satisfy your fishing and boating desires,
while excellent hunting opportunities,
numerous snowmobile trails, and a

Enhancing the Lives
of Animals and People
Through Education,
Adoption, and Compassion
by Jean Cornelius
to help the shelter by cleaning out
your closets and basement and donating
to an early summer rummage sale.
The Dog Walk, held during Ripon’s
Septemberfest event, is September 21.
Dogs, their owners, and people who
love to see dogs in costume are welcome
at Ripon’s Village Green for dog contests,
raffles, and a walk on the Northwestern
Trail. Top pledge earners for the walk
win prizes.

Fundraisers are key to supporting the
shelter. There’s a win-win opportunity

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

The vision of the Green Lake Area
Animal Shelter (GLAAS) is a community
in which all pets are considered
part of the family; are provided with
compassionate care, companionship,
and training; and are spayed or neutered.

Adopting from GLAAS saves the lives of
two animals—the one adopted and the
one moving into the empty space. An
open admission shelter, GLAAS accepts
and places primarily dogs and cats, but
can help with any animal issue. If they
can’t take an animal, they can find a
rescue that can.

needed items is on their website and
includes cleaning and pet and office
supplies. Donations can be made online.
Volunteers are needed for cat and dog
socialization, cleaning, office work, and
event assistance.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Staff examines, assesses, and provides
veterinary care for pets daily. They
talk with potential adopters to create
successful matches. Most animals end
up in shelters not because of abuse or
bad behavior, but because of “people”
reasons: divorce, a move, lack of time,
and finances.

Many pets are waiting at GLAAS to be
loved and to bring comfort, happiness,
wonder, and laughter to your life. Visit
in person or online at glaas.org. The
shelter is located near Green Lake just
east of the intersection of Highways
23 and 49 on Busse Drive. Call
(920) 294-3042 and like the shelter on
Facebook to stay up to date!

GLAAS relies on donations for
vaccinations, medicines, heat, utilities,
payroll, building maintenance, and
veterinary services. A wish list of

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Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

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Jean Cornelius is a freelance writer.

greenlakemagazine.com | 49

THRASHER
CELEBRATES
YEARS

OF MAGICAL LIVE
PERFORMANCES!

50 | Green Lake magazine 2019

Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake
holds true to its original purpose as
a gathering place for the community.
Built in 1910, the opera house remains
a symbol of the history that has already
passed through Green Lake, and since
its extensive remodeling and grand
reopening in the summer of 1998, it is
a ready participant in the history that is
yet to come.

condemnation. In 1994, Ron Hagstrom,
a prominent real estate broker in
Green Lake with a lifelong interest
in broadcasting, music, and theatre,
purchased the opera house and
immediately began drawing up plans for
a complete restoration. Rather than tear
it down, he elected to bring Thrasher
Opera House back to life.

Thrasher Opera House has been serving
Green Lake and the surrounding
communities since Charlie Thrasher
saw to it that there would be a place in
town where many kinds of events could
bring people together. The fact that the
opera house was originally the hub
of community activity is no surprise.
When Charlie built it over a century
ago, the facility hosted school dances,
basketball games, town meetings, and
town lectures. Before television and
radio, the days of vaudeville brought
traveling theatrical companies to Green
Lake. As time evolved, so did the
opera house.

The renovation was complete in 1997.
Thrasher Opera House reopened that
summer, hosting several artists for the
annual Green Lake Festival of Music,
a highly regarded summer series of
classical concerts that now makes the
opera house its home base. In 1998,
Thrasher Opera House began presenting
its own events, thereby reestablishing
itself as home to community and cultural
events. Registered on the National, State,
and City Registers of Historic Places,
Thrasher’s vision was realized. The
community was once again enthralled
with its opera house; children were
laughing, and people gathered to listen,
watch, and be entertained.

Charlie operated his namesake opera
house until 1939. However, by World
War II the building languished into
a warehouse and eventually fell into
a severe state of disrepair, slated for

Since its reopening, Thrasher Opera
House provides 50 to 60 nights each
year of diverse programming that
includes music and theatre performances, comedy, educational workshops

for youth and adults, and school plays as
well as community forums and debates.
The opera house annually hosts two
week-long residencies by the Missoula
Children’s Theatre, each involving 55
to 60 area children, one in January
and one in June. The opera house
is also used for weddings, business
meetings, fundraisers, movies, parties,
memorial services, and other events
limited only by the imagination of the
public, thus continuing Thrasher Opera
House’s important and historic function
as a community gathering place where
emotions and ideas are exchanged.
The 2019 season offers another year
of high-caliber performers, including
musicians The Barefoot Movement,
Nicholas David, Velvet Caravan,
JigJam, Skerryvore, Willy Porter, Albert
Cummings, Session Americana, The
Paul Thorn Band, Missoula Children’s
Theatre, the improvisational comedy
of The Second City, and more. Visit
thrasheroperahouse.com for dates,
times, and tickets.
Submitted by Thrasher Opera House.
Photographs provided by
Thrasher Opera House.

greenlakemagazine.com | 51

RIPON
COLLEGE

OFFERS A
WORLD OF
OPPORTUNITY
by Jaye Alderson
Established in 1851, Ripon College is
Wisconsin’s best-value private college
and a national leader in liberal arts
education. Ripon is devoted to ensuring
that every student realizes his or her
unique potential.
Ripon’s five-course Catalyst curriculum rigorously develops the 21st
century skills employers seek while
streamlining the path to graduation.
Every graduate earns a concentration

in applied innovation, which demonstrates mastery of the skills that
today’s employers seek: oral communication, writing, critical thinking,
collaboration, quantitative reasoning,
information literacy, integration, and
intercultural competence.
At the same time, Catalyst streamlines
the path to graduation by ensuring that
students can complete multiple majors
and minors, study abroad, and hold

internships in four years. As a matter of
fact, we guarantee it.
Willmore Center, a $23.5 million
expansion and renovation of the
college’s athletics and health and
wellness facility, opened in August
2017. It features a variety of fitness
spaces, classrooms, gymnasiums,
lounges, a pool, performance courts,
and a 65,000-square-foot field
house with NCAA-regulation indoor

Our beautiful, historic campus, with its modern amenities, advanced technology and on-site housing, is the perfect location
for weddings, camps, special events or group functions. Now accepting housing reservations for EAA 2019.

track, featuring pit and field events.
Memberships are open to members of
the surrounding community.
Within six months of graduation,
98 percent of Ripon graduates are
employed, student teaching, or pursuing graduate studies. What’s more,
an analysis of the U.S. Department
of Education’s College Scorecard’s data
found that Ripon College produces the
highest-earning graduates in the state
of Wisconsin. In addition, Ripon is the
top liberal arts school in Wisconsin and
eighth in the nation for colleges that
promote social mobility, according to
U.S. News & World Report.
One hundred percent of current and
incoming students receive financial
aid. Our average cost per student
is comparable to many of the larger
public universities.
Students benefit from Ripon’s small
class sizes and the individual attention
they receive from faculty who serve as
mentors, advisers, and collaborators.
Graduates include winners of the Nobel
Peace Prize, Academy Award, Grammy
Award, and Emmy Award; bestselling authors; three Rhodes Scholars;
and major contributors in business,
education, and medicine. The college
also established Pi Kappa Delta, now a
national honorary society for debaters
and orators, and the National Speech
and Debate Association. In 1953, the
college was awarded a chapter of Phi
Beta Kappa, placing it among a select
group of the nation’s top colleges.
For more information, visit ripon.edu.
Jaye Alderson is an editor
at Ripon College.
Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

greenlakemagazine.com | 53

Princeton

WHOOPING CRANE FESTIVAL
Continues Mission to Raise

Awareness of Endangered Species
by Alyssa Paulsen

You’re walking peacefully along a
beautiful winding marshland trail.
Wildflowers meander along the path’s
edges, and a light breeze plays at the
tips of the cattails. The only sounds
are tiny birds singing and the slosh
of your feet in the damp soil of the
marsh. Suddenly, a piercing, bugle-like
call breaks the silence. You go on high
alert—scanning the air and holding
your breath. This is the moment you’ve
been waiting for.
You see them. First, the black tips of
their wings become clearer as their
sleek white bodies fill the horizon.
You see a dash of red from their scarlet
crowns. And that unmistakable heartstopping call once again. You know
you’re looking at three endangered
whooping cranes, and you’re well aware
that 70 years ago this sighting wouldn’t
have been possible.

Seventy years ago, the number of living
whooping cranes in the wild was down
to only 15 birds worldwide. With
assistance from numerous organizations
and other entities, this number has
reached over 700 and continues to
grow. While the species’ future remains
unknown, many continue to fight to
raise awareness of the importance of
these gorgeous cranes.
54 | Green Lake magazine 2019

Despite the closing of one of the cranes’
biggest allies, Operation Migration in
mid-2018, those living in and near
Princeton are proud to still be the
organizers of the area’s Whooping
Crane Festival.
The Princeton Whooping Crane Festival
committee and Princeton Chamber of
Commerce are excited to announce

their 2019 Whooping Crane Festival
will commence on Friday, September
13, and run through Sunday, September
15. The main festival will take place
Saturday, September 14, at Princeton
Public School.

For more information regarding the
festival, please head to princetonwi.com
or the event Facebook page at
facebook.com/whooperfest.

While it may be small, the city of
Princeton packs a punch when it comes
to hosting events; the Whooping Crane
Festival can attest to that!

Photographs by Barbara Wilson.

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Some details still remain in the planning
phases, but the 2019 festival will feature
presenters speaking on topics regarding
conservation, nature, and animals that
share their habitat with the cranes;
childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainer David Stokes;
kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activities, such as face painting
and birdhouse painting; a craft and
vendor fair; food prepared and sold by
the Princeton Lions Club; a pancake
breakfast; and more! The festival will
also include pre- and postfestival
events, such as field trips to local and
area destinations, Friday night dinner
with keynote speaker, and a Saturday
night wrap-up party.
greenlakemagazine.com | 55

Celebrate Autumn in Style with 31 Years of Green Lake’s

Harvest Fest
Green Lake has been home to one
of the area’s premier harvest festival
events for 30 years. Once known as
Green Lake’s Golden Days Harvest Fest,
now dubbed simply Harvest Fest, the
two-day event is heading into its 31st
year with activities the whole family
can enjoy.

29. Organized by the Green Lake Area
Chamber of Commerce with assistance
from volunteers and local organizations
and businesses, Harvest Fest will once
again be a bounty of fun.

each year. Woodworking, crocheting,
knitting, jewelry, candles, pottery,
artwork, crafts, and so much more
are sure to be found within the rows
of vendors.

The event features an art and craft
fair spanning Playground Park, Deacon
Mills Park, and Town Square’s lawn.
Over 100 crafters will be showcasing
and selling their wares to the over
10,000 people who attend the festival

A farmer’s market also makes its home
along Water Street, packed full of
delicious produce, jarred foods, baked
goods, mouthwatering organic meats,
vibrant fall plants, pumpkins, and more.
Head to Thrasher Opera House for the

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Harvest Fest will take place in
downtown Green Lake on Saturday,
September 28 and Sunday, September

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

by Alyssa Paulsen

56 | Green Lake magazine 2019

annual Harvest of Bargains, where they
fill the entire opera house with a huge
rummage sale! And at Playground Park,
join in the fun of the children’s area
with entertainment, a petting farm, and
bouncy play equipment.
Live music is played in the square
throughout both days, and delectable
fall foods can be found whenever you
turn around. Mill Street is closed to
host a long line of restaurant or localorganization favorites to eat throughout
the event. And be sure to visit the Green
Lake Area Chamber of Commerce booth
for a raffle and silent auction.
When 4:00 p.m. on Saturday rolls
around, clear the street because the
annual Harvest Fest parade is coming!
It’s almost an hour long and features over
65 entries, including local high school
bands, business and organization floats,
the Harvest Fest prince and princess,
a grand marshal, local veterans, law
enforcement representatives, emergency
service vehicles, entertainment, and
everything else that makes a parade big
and spectacular!
Sunday’s big event is the Jack Taylor
Memorial Car Show and motorcycle
show. The Green Lake County
Fairgrounds and Hill Street are lined
with antique and collectible vehicles
and are quite the sight to be seen. While
there are no awards per se, entries will
be placed into a drawing that takes
place later in the day.
Most of the action commences around
10:00 a.m. both days and runs until
5:00 p.m. For more information, please
contact the Green Lake Area Chamber
of Commerce at (920) 294-3231.

Enjoy the beauty of waterfalls cascading
over the Montello Granite Quarry, home
to the hardest granite in the world,
situated downtown at the intersection
of State Highways 22 and 23. Or you
can take in the scenic beauty from
atop Observatory Hill, the highest point
in Marquette County, which is just
minutes south of downtown. Nature
abounds at John Muir Park, where trails
lead you through the area around Ennis
Lake that John Muir and family called
home during his boyhood.
Surrounded by Buffalo Lake, Montello
Lake, the Montello River, and the
Fox River, fishing and water activities
are abundant. In addition to several
public launches, many shore fishing
opportunities exist at Krakow Park as
well as the scenic Sunset Road, which
is a pet-friendly walking trail. Montello
City Park is on Montello Lake and offers
a playground, volleyball and horseshoe
courts, softball diamond, and picnic
and beach areas.
With acres of nearby public hunting
land and plentiful populations of geese,
turkey, and deer, the Montello area

may just become your new favorite
hunting spot.
Whether your preferred transportation
is two or four wheeled, we have you
covered! Several area bike trails start in
or near downtown Montello. Looping
along lakeshores and scenic country
roads, the trails will inspire and
invigorate you. Numerous ATV routes
connect and cross through Montello for
hours of scenic riding. By cycle or auto,
be sure to take in Wisconsin Rustic
Road 104, located just minutes south of
Montello, for a backroad experience you
won’t soon forget.
At the end of the day when it’s time to
rest and unwind, relax with a beverage
at one of the many local pubs and
taverns before enjoying a meal. Dining
options range from light salads and
sandwiches to steaks and seafood.
Lodging choices are also plentiful.
No matter your mood, you’ll find
accommodations just right for you with
peaceful cabins on a lake, motels within
walking distance of the downtown, and
campgrounds offering everything from
tent sites to cottage rentals.

Open 7 days a week. Check online for a complete list of
rental items from power tools to party tents!

Hwy. 22 South in Montello • 1-608-297-7170
hollidayshoppingcenter.com

With numerous events and activities
year-round, check our calendar of events
at montellowi.com when planning your
visit to the beautiful Montello area.
Provided by the
Montello Area Chamber of Commerce.
Photographs provided by
Matthew Falz Photography.

Plan a day trip with your friends and
family to the 19th annual From The
Land Folk Art Festival in Green Lake
on Saturday, October 19, 10:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. or Sunday, October 20,
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Enjoy the
scenic drive and fall colors to shop
at approximately 100 artist tents.
There will be clothing, jewelry, purses,

pottery, candles, felted items, yarn,
folk art painting, wood carving, nature
photography, metal sculpture, and
many other items. The show is held
rain or shine.
Lunch is offered in the pole shed
and includes old-fashioned hot dogs,
Ray’s fried sauerkraut, pulled lamb

sandwiches, mac and cheese, hot
coffee, and cider. You can also enjoy
a piece of homemade pie in the pie
shop and take home fudge, caramels,
Chippy’s Kettle Corn, and artsian bread
and pastries from Renard’s European
Bakeshop. There will also be local
produce, such as garlic, leeks, squash,
onions, and brussel sprouts along with
salsa and pickles. Farm-raised pork,
beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, and hempoil products.
Other weekend attractions include
an ongoing live blacksmithing
demonstration, antique tractor show,
voyageur canoe, and Native American
tepee and healing lodge with sweats
around 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
“Fungus Among Us” will be the topic
for Matt Normansell at 1:00 p.m. on
Saturday and Sunday. Please bring your
mushrooms for identification and to
share with the audience.
Along with nice weather, the show has
endured rain, wind, and snowsquawls;
please dress for the weather. From the
Land is located on the Toll/Londowski
Family Farm, north of Green Lake on
Highway 49 and west on County J.
For more information about From the
Land, please call Jan at (920) 216-1729
or go to fromthelandfestival.com.
Photograph provided by From the Land.

60 | Green Lake magazine 2019

ENTER ONLINE TO WIN A

Affordable
Senior Care

Go to greenlakemagazine.com
and click on Favorites to vote.
Submit your picks to be entered into
a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to
one of the participating businesses.

How can Ripon make the holidays even
better than they already do? By filling
the weekend with even more! Visit the
one and only Santa Claus as you eat a
delicious breakfast, get your Christmas

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Every year, Dickens of a Christmas
features a variety of events and activities
throughout the City of Ripon. Favorites
include creative wonders at the Dickens
of a Quilt Show at Horicon Bank, taking
a magical walk through the Enchanted
Forest of beautifully decorated
Christmas trees, viewing Christmas

crĂ¨ches from around the world, and
getting creative (and hungry) at the
Gingerbread House Contest.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing more magical than a
small town getting ready for the winter
holidays. Swoop back to the time of
Charles Dickens and head to Ripon as
they celebrate their 30th annual Dickens
of a Christmas from Friday, December
6, to Sunday, December 8. One of the
most well-known Christmas events in
the area, Dickens of a Christmas never
ceases to amaze and continues to get
bigger and better each year.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius
Photograph by Jean Cornelius

shopping done with a number of art
and craft shows, and see inside some
of Ripon’s greatest residences with the
Tour of Homes.

As you walk downtown, be sure to
enjoy not only the Living Windows
and sights to see, but also treats,
holiday music, and festive food
and drink.
For
more
ripon-wi.com.

information,

visit

Alyssa Paulsen is a freelance writer.

Photograph by Jean Cornelius

One of Dickens of a Christmas’ most
popular events is the Living Windows
displays. This is a favorite for many
Ripon residents, visitors, and college
students. On Saturday, beginning at
5:30 p.m., watch as downtown shop
windows come alive with holiday
spirit! Most years feature a historical
time period theme, and you may
get lucky and see some of the
beloved characters from Dicken’s
A Christmas Carol.

greenlakemagazine.com | 63

Cover Artist

DIANE WASHA
www.dianewasha.com

Artist Diane Washa is an awardwinning painter who takes inspiration
from the changing landscapes she has
had in view since road trips with
her family as a child. Diane creates
paintings in an intriguingly abstract
style that is rich in detail. She most
often works en plein air.
Painting in sight of the prairies,
streams, rivers, and bluffs of
Wisconsin’s countryside and the
sweep of dramatic skies overhead,
Diane’s brush captures the movement
of color and light, and time and place.
In still-life studies, she sometimes
extracts a single intimate element of
the landscape that catches her eye.

64 | Green Lake magazine 2019

Diane came late to her now-productive
life as an artist. A business executive
by day, she got serious about her
lifelong passion for painting in 2005.
Several years later, she was exhibiting
in galleries and at art exhibitions.
And over the past decade, Diane has
exhibited in dozens of art shows, some
as a featured artist.
Diane has a degree in fine art from
Milton College and an MBA from the
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.
She continues her quest to learn and
grow in her art through studies with
a number of admired painters and is
part of a network of artists dedicated
to the en plein air approach.